Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-07-01

gether
& But the Bretonne could not close her
eyes a feeling at once poignant and ten
der clutched her at the heart, and more
than ever before at any time Of her life she
thought of the defenseless harmless little
creature she had ruthlessly strangled.
This dread, remorseful feeling lasted
until the first streak of dawn. At break
of day La Fleuriotte and her child were still
fast locked in each others arms.
The Bretonne noiselessly crept out OF
the Tie, hovel. and making the best of her way
back to 1Auberive, slackened her steps only
when she reached the first houses OF the
small place. She slewly walked up the
only street in the village, i1fttently gazing
at the sign boards over each shop.
At last one of these signs arrested her
attention. She knocked at the shutters
and the door was soon opened. 1t was one
of those little country stores where, be-
sides variety of haberdashery wares,
cheap second hand toys may be bought,
cardboard dolls, Noah's arks and baa
lambs The amazement of the woman
who kept the store was unbounded when
she saw the Bretonne buy up and pay for
the whole stock.
The Bretonne was proceeding with a
joyful heart on her way back to the howell,
when heavy gloved hand fell upon her
shoulder She started, and, on turning
round, shuddered to find herself face to
face with corporal of gendarmes.
The wretched woman had forgotten that
all liberated convicts were forbidden to re-
main in the precincts of the Central House
of Detention.
'sInstead of vagabondizing round here
you ought to have already reached Lam
gres,' said the military man in gruH
voice. "Come, be OFF,
She wanted tc explain, but it was of no
use. A cart was put into requisition; she
had to get up into it, and away went
the horses under escort of one of the gend-
armes.
The cart jolted mercilessly along the
frozen road. The poor Bretonne, with
half broken heart, clutched her little par
eel of playthings in her benumbed fingers.
Soon, at turn in the road, she discovered
the path which entered the wood.
Her heart leaped, and she hesought the
gendarme to stop for a minute. She had
a commission, she said, for La Fleuriotte,
a woman who lived there, close by She
besought with snch an earnestness OF
manner and feeling that the gendarme,
who after ALL was good natured fellow,
allowed himself to be swayed by her en-
treaties.
The cart was stopped, the horse was
tied to tree, the gendarme and his pris-
oner got down, and they went up the
path that led to the howell in the wood.
La Fleuriotte was busy chopping wood
in front of her door. When she looked
up and caught sight of the woman whom
she had housed on the previous evening
in the hands of geHdarme she stood
with mouth wide open, like one petrified.
"Hush!" calculated the Bretanne, as
she put her finger to her lips ssIy the {
little one asleep" - S..
eyes; butt 9-'7a
"Carry these toys softly to her bedside
and tell her that Sainte Catherine sent
them to her. went back to Auberive to
fetch them, but it seems 1 had no right to
do so, and l am being taken on to
Langres."
ssHoly mother of Godp' exclaimed La
Fleuriotte.
ssHushp'
They all drew near the bed where the
child lay.
The Bretonne took thek cardboard dolls,
Noah's arks and baa LAMBS, scattered
them gently over the coverllet, kissed the
thin, naked am Of ts3as- yet ,slumberi1g
child, and then, turning toward the gen
darme, who quickly brushed a tear from
his eye. quietly said:
"NoW, we can go on our way"
ANDRE THEURIET.